The feather bristlegrass (Pennisetum) is known as a rather lazy bloomer. In order for the attractive spikes of flowers to appear in late summer, all the requirements of the ornamental grass must be met. In the following article we have summarized the possible causes and remedies and give you valuable care tips.

Pennisetum does not like cool and rainy climates

The reasons for the lack of flowering

A disease is almost never responsible for Pennisetum not flowering. In addition, the feather bristle grass is extremely robust and is rarely visited by pests.

  • If it is too cool and rather rainy, the ornamental grass lacks warmth and does not bloom.
  • The plant needs a lot of moisture for the formation of the spikes. In summers when there is little rain, there may be a lack of it.
  • A generally too dry location in the garden also causes flowering laziness.
  • Pennisetum has a high nutrient requirement and should be fertilized regularly.
  • If the clumps become too large and move too close to the neighboring plants, this can lead to the lack of flowers.

remedy

If environmental influences such as too humid, cool summers are to blame for the laziness in flowering, there is little you can do about it. However, if care errors are the cause, these can easily be corrected and you can look forward to the pretty spikes of flowers in late summer.

  • Water the ornamental grass daily during hot periods. This is most effective in the early morning or evening.
  • If the feather bristle grass is in a rather dry corner of the garden, you can move it in the spring. You should share clumps that have grown large on this occasion. - Fertilize the pennisetum moderately but regularly. A commercially available fertilizer for green plants has proven itself, which you administer in the amount printed on the package.
  • If the plants are too close together in the bed, they compete for nutrients. If necessary, expand the area or move some plants to create enough space for the individual plants.

tips

Ants like to roost near the pennisetum grass. You can recognize them by the fine crumbs of earth and small heaps at the bottom of the ornamental grass. Since the small creepy-crawlies fulfill ecologically important tasks in the garden, you should not destroy them. It is enough to muddy them with a jet of water until they look for another habitat of their own accord.

Category:

Herbs